Hotel Castello Monticello
Giglio Porto - Via Provinciale
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The beautiful Giglio Island, one of the most important in the Tuscan Archipelago, sits off the coast of Argentario, in the province of Grosseto. Perfect for a relaxing holiday, boasting crystal-clear waters, it’s equipped with every comfort and amenity, and has a strong tourism infrastructure. But Giglio is equally ideal for a mini-cruise: there are plenty departing from Porto Santo Stefano, allowing you to explore the island’s main areas and finest beaches while spending an unforgettable day.
At Giglio Island, the watchword is seaside relaxation, though it can become rather crowded in summer. There isn’t a thriving nightlife, but in the evenings tourists fill the narrow streets of Giglio Porto, Giglio Castello and Giglio Campese, the three main settlements. The island is also ideal for walking enthusiasts and hikers, who can trek on foot along numerous trails, discovering quieter, more isolated inland areas.
At just 21 square kilometres, Giglio Island is the second largest in the Tuscan Archipelago: explore it thoroughly, discover its magnificent beaches and wild interior, and you’re sure to return home satisfied.
At Giglio Island, as a general rule, the sea is beautiful everywhere. Beaches are plentiful, some sandy, others pebbly or rocky: the main ones number four, though there are many other small coves for a dip in the Tyrrhenian waters. Pick your favourite and make the most of your holiday.
Campese Beach is the town beach of Giglio Campese. It has a slightly semicircular shape and stretches for over 500 metres; at its far right end stands the iconic Campese Tower, one of Giglio Island’s symbols.
It’s the island’s largest beach, and one of the most developed from a tourism perspective. Forget about enjoying peace and quiet, unless you visit out of season! In any case, you’ll find golden-dark sand, beautiful transparent waters with the seabed dropping to about a metre deep, then sloping gently away.
The beach has all the main facilities: beach clubs for sunbed and parasol hire, shops selling beach products, bars and restaurants, plus activities such as a diving centre, boat rental and water taxi service. Thanks to its orientation, you can enjoy fabulous sunsets at Giglio Campese.
Beyond these important advantages, there’s another: Campese Beach is extremely easy to reach! Simply follow the main road to Giglio Campese and you’re there. A public bus service also operates, departing from Giglio Porto.
Cannelle Beach lies just south of Giglio Porto, and it’s a true gem. It’s a fine strip of white sand with spectacular sea colours.
Its proximity to Giglio Porto means it’s very busy, both with tourists staying in the resort and day-trippers, as it can be reached conveniently on foot with a walk of about 20-30 minutes along a scenic path, or more quickly by taxi, scooter or hired bike.
You can also reach Cannelle Beach using water taxis departing from Giglio Porto’s waterfront, with departures every 20-30 minutes several times daily. Note that there are no bus connections.
Once there, you can hire sunbeds and parasols at the beach club Cannelle Wonderful Beach, and grab refreshments at the bar-restaurant on site.
Caldane Beach lies just beyond Cannelle Beach, continuing south. The walking distance between the two beaches is about 20 minutes along trail number 23. It’s a beautiful beach, and the smallest on Giglio. If you don’t fancy walking, the only alternative is by boat: for this reason, it’s not excessively crowded.
Caldane Beach is partly free, partly occupied by a beach club. Space is limited, so in peak season we recommend arriving as early as possible.
North of Giglio Porto lies Arenella Beach, the island’s third largest, about 100 metres long. You’ll find magnificent sea colours and mixed sand-rock seabeds; worth noting is the rock called “La tartaruga” (The Turtle) for its shape.
You reach Arenella by car from Giglio Porto; the road is comfortable and paved though parking is scarce, especially in high season, so in the busiest periods you’ll need to park further back near the Arenella Hotel and walk the rest of the way to the beach.
Once there, you can use the beach club to hire sunbeds or parasols, or lay your towel in one of the free beach areas, though these are very small: best to arrive early!
Scalettino Beach is at Giglio Porto, practically in the centre, at the end of the waterfront heading north. Despite its proximity to the town and port, the water is clear and transparent, very clean.
It’s a sandy beach with smooth granite rocks on either side, perfect for sunbathing. There’s also a section that, thanks to tidal influences, becomes a small natural pool, completely sheltered from the open sea by the rocks just offshore, ideal for families with small children.
Walking from Giglio Porto towards Cannelle Beach, almost at the southern edge of the town, you’ll come across the tiny Saraceno Beach. It’s barely more than ten metres long, with a very narrow strip of sand, no more than two metres wide. Typical houses and apartments face it, in a truly original setting yet decidedly charming nonetheless.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Despite being a major tourist destination, Giglio Island hides an unspoilt and wild interior. Indeed, not many tourists venture into the heart of the island, which is a shame, as the dense network of marked trails allows for unique experiences.
You can walk along clifftops overlooking the sea, with splendid panoramic views of Argentario and the other Tuscan Archipelago islands; furthermore, some trails lead to beaches inaccessible by other means.
Many of Giglio’s trails were originally mule tracks, the only roads locals used to get from their homes to the fields. Today, that original purpose is gone, but they’re used almost exclusively by tourists.
Be aware that numerous trails cross uneven terrain, so you’ll need comfortable footwear. Furthermore, not all are suitable for mountain bikes. Whatever trail you take, carry plenty of water, and be aware that mobile signal doesn’t always work inland. Therefore, if you plan to arrange part of your transport via taxi, organise your return in advance.
The map of trails on Giglio Island can be downloaded online or requested free of charge from the Pro Loco located at Via Provinciale 9 in Giglio Porto.
At Giglio Island, as mentioned, there are three main settlements: Giglio Porto, Giglio Castello and Giglio Campese. Choosing one over the others will significantly influence your holiday.
Choose Giglio Porto, the largest, if you prefer the convenience of having ferries within reach, since they depart and arrive right here. With a hotel or apartment in Giglio Porto, once you disembark you can reach your accommodation even on foot, without waiting for a taxi, which aren’t frequent, or public transport. Giglio Porto is also very pleasant to walk around, with a characterful waterfront, shops, bars and restaurants. Be aware that when ferries arrive and depart, the area becomes very noisy and crowded.
Giglio Castello, meanwhile, is located uphill. It has a lovely historic centre, but as you might guess, it’s far from the sea. For many this is a disadvantage, as you need a car to get to the beach, but for others it can be an unbeatable advantage, with fewer crowds and a more exclusive atmosphere.
Finally, the third place to stay on Giglio Island is Campese. Situated on the opposite coast from Giglio Porto, it boasts a lovely sandy beach, ideal for families with children who want to spend wonderful days at the seaside.
All three settlements on Giglio Island are very well-equipped tourism-wise, so there’s no shortage of hotels, apartments, B&Bs and all the services needed for a worry-free holiday.
Being primarily a beach destination, Giglio Island is perfect to visit in summer. August is when the season peaks, and this brings a series of drawbacks: more expensive hotels and apartments, less beach space, people everywhere at all hours. Naturally August is the height of Italian summer holidays, but if possible, arrive at Giglio in June or July, when days are longer, beaches less crowded and prices still reasonable.
If you can, enjoy the island in May or September, months when you can spend relaxing days on half-empty beaches and take exhilarating walks along numerous trails without excessive temperatures; some businesses, however, may be closed in these months.
Giglio Island is reached by ferry from Porto Santo Stefano, a locality in the municipality of Monte Argentario, in Grosseto province. The Argentario massif sits directly opposite the island’s eastern coast.
From Porto Santo Stefano, ferries depart daily, multiple times, operated by two shipping companies: Toremar and Maregiglio. The crossing takes just over an hour, and tickets can be purchased on site at the shipping companies’ offices, or online on their official websites. We recommend buying tickets online especially during high season, to secure a berth, though there are up to 12 departures daily in summer. In winter services reduce to 4 daily.
You can also board your car or motorbike on the ferry (in which case advance booking is practically essential!), or alternatively park at one of the long-stay car parks at Porto Santo Stefano in front of the port. Note finally that a landing tax of 1.50 euros is added to the ticket price.
Giglio Island is located in the province of Grosseto, not far as the crow flies from the Argentario promontory. It sits to the east of Montecristo Island and to the north-west of the small island of Giannutri.
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